The"Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering" working group conducts research in the field of "Cell-based diagnostics and therapy", a focus at the Institute of Biotechnology at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg (Senftenberg site) in the "Health and Life Sciences" profile.

Our research is based on in vivo-like 3D tissue models on a laboratory scale. In contrast to the typical 2-dimensional (2D) cell culture technique, cells are cultivated in the laboratory in a 3D cell network in order to mimic the situation in the body and enable tissue-typical physiological behaviour of the cells.

The potential applications of these microtissues form the basis of our key research areas.

1. Personalised cell-based therapies for traumatic cartilage injuries in regenerative medicine. The use of cartilage microtissues in the clinic has already been admitted by the EMA (EMEA/H/C/002736). Our next goal is the development of osteochondral patient-derived grafts for the regeneration of deep cartilage defects.
2. Development of a (patient-specific) osteoarthritis disease modelto gain a better insight into the disease and possible therapeutic approaches. The primary focus is currently on cartilage-like micrografts, followed by a more complex osteoarthritis model that includes other important cells/tissues involved in the disease, e.g. bone, synovium or immune cells.
3. Development of human-based, in vivo-like test systems for experimental pharmacology. This enables the reduction of animal experiments. On the other hand, patient-specific test systems could be made available, which could enable individualised medication.

Our working group is involved in the "REGproAGE" cluster of the BTU Graduate Research School (GRS) in the area of young scientists. Prof. Anderer is the project leader in the "REGproAGE" cluster and Annemarie Ecke, a doctoral student in our working group, is taking part in the GRS qualification programme and is receiving a GRS scholarship.

The teaching programme is closely linked to research and ranges from the basics of Cell Biology, an insight into Cell Biological Methods to Tissue Engineering and the basics of various basic human tissue types in theory (lecture, seminar) and practice (laboratory courses). The target groups for the courses offered at BTU C-S are currently the Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in Biotechnology.

Unsolicited applications for Bachelor's and Master's theses are welcome at any time.